Martin O'Neill today insisted James Milner will only be sold to Manchester City if the club's valuation of the England midfielder is met.

Milner was the subject of a bid from Manchester City before the World Cup, which was firmly rejected.

Speaking from Villa's training camp in Dublin, the boss revealed that the 24-year-old might consider a move to Eastlands but the manager stressed that Milner will only be allowed to move if the clubs can agree on a transfer fee.

"There is still a doubt really as to what is happening to James Milner," O'Neill said.

"The state of affairs is really straightforward. James and his agent came to see us before the World Cup and intimated that they would like to go.

"Then Manchester City made the offer which we told them about. There is a difference of valuation at this moment between the buying club and the selling club.

"That may well be resolved and if that is the case then absolutely fine. I think James' agent has told our chief executive that he wouldn't be signing a new contract.

"Obviously that puts a different slant on things, like everything else.

"Although I haven't spoken to James since that day, he has played in the World Cup and the rest really is pretty well straightforward.

"If a fee is agreed, at the end of the day, the player can leave."

Villa will continue their pre-season programme with a friendly against Bohemians at Dalymount Park on Saturday [ko 3pm].

The 11-time League of Ireland champions go into the match on the back of a 4-0 defeat to Welsh outfit TNS on Tuesday, in the Champions League second qualifying round.

Pat Fenlon's team are chasing a third straight League of Ireland crown and currently sit in third place, two points off the top spot.

Milner has yet to join up with the Villa squad for pre-season having been granted an extended break, along with fellow World Cup stars Emile Heskey, Stephen Warnock and Brad Guzan.

"Manchester City have put a valuation on the player," O'Neill added. "It doesn't match our particular valuation but we will see.

"That part of things I am leaving to other members of the football club - the chief executive and the owner - and at the end of it all it is a matter of resolving it."